Maria. And me to retract my ill opinion of a good man. Cha. My dear William, by a look back to our past adventures, you'll enjoy the recollection that you have borne unmerited adverfity—and I, whilft my pride in undeferved profperity is punished, fhall be taught by my reception here, that when distress presents itself before me, the bittereft drop in the cup of human mifery is, the world's contempt. Mrs. Bell. Thus you'll deferve your wealthand when infpired by heaven to difpenfe the bleffings it has fent you alone for that benign purpofe, wait not for the application of modeft indigence -feek her in her fad retreat, cheer her with your fmiles, wipe away her tears, comfort and relieve her. Louifa. Let us begin our acts of benevolence by fhewing our gratitude to this worthy man (pointing to Foll.) Foll. Thank you Ma'am. But as the wind fometimes diverts itself by playing in the fails of my mill, and people will obftinately perfift in this odd whim of eating bread, I think I may do pretty well as I am. Ay, we may fee the world in our village! But a fig for the world-Let induftry fecure independence; and if wealth or poverty will come, let the rich man be proud only of his power to be the poor man's friend. THE END. THE HIGHLAND REEL. IN THREE ACTS. PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE-ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN, IN 1788. THE MUSIC BY MR. SHIELD. 1 THE HIGHLAND REEL. ACT I. SCENE I. Break of Day. MCGILPIN'S House. A Small Court Yard before it enclofed with a Paling.(CHARLEY appears at a Window) CHARLEY. DAY begins to peep-choak that cock! he'll rouse my old mafter; but if I can get his daughter Moggy to run away with me, let cocks crow, dogs bark, and old Masters grumble, (ftretches out and taps at another window) Moggy! Mifs Moggy McGilpin !-ha, ha, ha!-I muft Mifs Moggy her! (Moggy appears at the window) Mog. Well, Charley! Cha. Here; I've ftole the key of your room out of your father's pocket. (reaches a key to her on a stick) Mog. Oh, precious! VOL. IV. P Cha. Cha. I'll drop out of the window for fear ofmaking a noife on the ftairs; you've only to unlock your own door, and foftly trip down, I'll wait for you below. Mog. But how am I to get out when I get below? have you got the key of the ftreet door? Cha Eh! I quite forgot that. Mog. What a fool !-If I hav'n't a mind to go to bed again, and think no more about you—but fince I did promife to go off, as we can't get out at the street door, I'll try to get from my window; if you'll jump from yours, and stand below ready to receive me. (retires) Cha. I'm not the first clerk that has run away with his master's daughter, nor fhall I be the last -while clerks are poor, mafters rich, and daughters pretty. (leaps down) (Moggy re-appears at the window) Mog. The duce a thing can I find to-ftop, I'll cut my bed-cord, tie it to the leg of the table, and flide down by it. (retires) Cha. Slide down by her bed-cord! ha, ha, ha! my Moggy's a rare romping Hoyden-but fhe's good-natur'd, a fweet temper, and a merry heart; fo if I never get a fhilling from the old one I'll have her at a venture. (Moggy appears again at the window) Mog. (throwing a cord) There--I think that's faft-now I'll-Lud, I fhall cut my hands thro' -take you for not getting the key of the street door. Cha. My dear throw out firft what clothes you. may want. Mog. Then you won't take me without clothes, ha, ha, ha! DUETTO. |